Tag Archives: San Francisco

United Airlines today announced its largest ever international network expansion from its hub at San Francisco International Airport. The airline will offer Bay Area customers nonstop year-round service to Toronto and Melbourne, Australia and seasonal service to New Delhi. United also announced it will begin a second daily flight between San Francisco and Seoul, South Korea. All routes subject to government approvals. In addition to the new routes, in 2019, United will begin new year-round nonstop service between San Francisco and Auckland, New Zealand, Tahiti, French Polynesia and Amsterdam.

“This route expansion solidifies United’s position at San Francisco as the gateway airline serving destinations across the Pacific, the continental United States, as well as to Europe and beyond,” said Oscar Munoz, United’s CEO. “It serves as a fitting capstone to all our efforts that made 2018 a breakthrough year for United, from delivering strong financial performance to currently leading in on-time departures for the second year in a row.”

Since 2013, United Airlines has added 12 new international destinations from San Francisco. With these new flights, United will serve 29 international destinations from San Francisco, including eight cities in Europe, India, and the Middle East, seven in North America, and 14 in Asia and Oceania. United, the largest airline at San Francisco International Airport, operates more than 300 daily flights.

United has been a Bay Area company for 90 years and employs 14,000 people in the region, including 2,500 industrial jobs at its maintenance base, which recently celebrated its 70th anniversary of operation. United continues to invest in the airport, this year opening the 28,000-square foot Polaris lounge near Gate G92 in International Terminal G.

San Francisco to Amsterdam

United recently announced it will offer nonstop daily year-round service between San Francisco and Amsterdam. With this new flight, United will be the first U.S. carrier to fly between California and Amsterdam. United currently serves Amsterdam nonstop from its hubs in Chicago, Houston, New York/Newark and Washington, D.C. The new San Francisco service begins on March 30, 2019 and will be operated with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.

San Francisco to Melbourne, Australia

Offering the most service between the U.S. West Coast and Australia by any U.S. carrier, United is adding new nonstop year-round service between San Francisco and Melbourne three times per week, beginning October 29, 2019. For more than 35 years, United has offered nonstop service to Australia. Today, United offers nonstop service to Sydney from Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco and provides nonstop service between Los Angeles and Melbourne. United operates all flights between the U.S. and Australia with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.

San Francisco to New Delhi, India

United’s new seasonal service between San Francisco and New Delhi enables business and leisure travelers nonstop access from the U.S. West Coast. The new flight will connect customers from more than 80 cities to India with just one stop in San Francisco. United currently offers nonstop service to Mumbai and New Delhi from New York/Newark. Seasonal service begins on December 5, 2019, with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.

San Francisco to Seoul, South Korea

United is adding a second flight – flown four times per week – between San Francisco and Seoul, South Korea. The airline has served Seoul for more than 30 years from San Francisco. The second flight will provide customers with new time and itinerary options, while providing convenient connections to more than 80 destinations. The additional flights begin on April 1, 2019 and will be operated with Boeing 777-200ER aircraft.

San Francisco to Toronto, Canada

United’s new twice-daily nonstop year-round service between San Francisco and Toronto begins March 31, 2019, offering convenient connections for business and leisure travelers from throughout the western United States, Asia and the South Pacific. United currently offers more than 20 daily flights between Toronto and its hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, New York/Newark and Washington Dulles. In addition to Toronto, United operates daily nonstop service between San Francisco and Calgary and Vancouver. United will operate service with Boeing 737-800.

San Francisco to Pape’ete, Tahiti, extended to year-round

This fall, United began the only nonstop service offered by a U.S. carrier between the mainland U.S. and Tahiti with its San Francisco – Pape’ete flight. The airline recently announced it is extending its Tahiti schedule to year-round service from San Francisco. Year-round service on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays begins March 30, 2019. United operates Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft between San Francisco and Pape’ete.

San Francisco to Auckland, New Zealand, extended to year-round

Beginning March 30, 2019, United will extend service between its West Coast hub in San Francisco and Auckland to year-round with three-times-weekly service. In partnership with Air New Zealand, United’s flight arriving in Auckland offers passengers more than 20 connections across the region and the return trip utilizes United’s extensive route network in San Francisco, which provides connections to the United States, Canada, and Latin America. United’s extended service between San Francisco and Auckland will operate with Boeing 777-200ER aircraft.

Air Canada flight 759, an Airbus A-320, was cleared to land on runway 28R at San Francisco International Airport, but the aircraft lined up on parallel taxiway C, which had four airplanes on it awaiting takeoff clearance. Air Canada flight 759 descended below 100 feet above the ground and initiated a go-around after overflying the first airplane on taxiway C.

(The top portion of this not-to-scale NTSB graphic, created from Harris Symphony OpsVue radar track data analysis, depicts the positions of aircraft on an overhead view of the runways and taxiways at San Francisco International Airport. The text is from a transmission to air traffic control from a United Airlines airplane on the taxiway. The bottom photo, taken from San Francisco International Airport video, shows Air Canada Flight 759 passing over the first United Airlines airplane.)

The docket includes factual reports for operations, human performance, air traffic control, aircraft performance, and the flight data recorder. The docket also contains a video that shows the overflight, as well as interview summaries, photographs and other investigative material.

The docket contains only factual information collected by NTSB investigators. No conclusions about how or why the overflight occurred should be drawn from the information in the docket, as the investigation is ongoing. Analysis, findings, recommendations, and probable cause determinations related to the incident will be issued by the NTSB at a later date.

Airbus A330-202 EC-MMG is pictured rolling out on runway 28L at SFO on the inaugural arrival.

Iberia made this announcement:

(PRNewsfoto/Olive Oils from Spain)

Two of Spain’s emblems, Iberia and Olive Oils from Spain, work together to consolidate the positioning of the two most powerful sectors of the Spanish industry: tourism and agri-food. Each new route opened in the world by the airline brings a bit more Spanish liquid gold to consumers around the world. A product that has had a notable role in the presentation of the new Iberia route linking Madrid and San Francisco to informants and tourism professionals from the United States, Olive Oil from Spain has created a really innovative proposal, integrating this food into cocktails, deepening the inexhaustible versatility of the Spanish flagship product.

A millenary tradition in a 21st century cocktail bar

Olive Oils from Spain have been the most surprising ingredient of the evening. Its texture, aromas and flavors have not gone unnoticed for high end cocktails. The juices of the olive are known mainly for dressings and frying. With innovations like those presented in San Francisco, it opens the door to the disclosure of new applications for an extremely versatile product, ranging from pastries to cosmetics, to cocktails with and without alcohol, such as:

Margarita with Hojiblanca EVOO

Virgin Mary with Picual EVOO

Gin Tonic with Arbequina EVOO

San Francisco with Cornicabra EVOO

Olive Oils from Spain are the promotional brand of the Spanish Olive Oil Interprofesional, a non-profit organization, formed by all the representative entities of the sector in Spain. Its main objective is todisseminate information on the product, its uses and health properties throughout the world. The Interprofessional has been developing promotional campaigns for almost a decade to bring this super food to consumers in five continents. Among its priorities is the United States market, where Olive Oils from Spain are leaders, with exports in 2017 of 124,000 tons.

Iberia, for its part, has been proudly taking the image of Spain across the globe for more than 90 years, in the fuselage and interior of its aircraft. Throughout this time it has established itself as a symbol of Spain’s leadership in quality, development and modernity,values that match perfectly with those of Olives from Spain.

Beginning April 30, customers traveling in United Polaris, the airline’s international premium cabin travel experience, will be able to relax and dine prior to their travels or refresh upon arrival in the new United Polaris lounge at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) conveniently located in the International Terminal near Gate G92.

United Polaris Lounge at SFO (PRNewsfoto/United Airlines)

Thoughtful California touches are incorporated into the lounge’s look as well as the food and beverages so that customers – visiting us from all over the globe – get a glimpse into the Bay Area’s unique aesthetic.

The Bar at United Polaris lounge at SFO (PRNewsfoto/United Airlines)

United Polaris Lounge at SFO Facts and Highlights

Two levels across more than 28,000 square feet

440 seats

19 different types of seating

492 power outlets and 492 USB ports

8 pieces of art by prominent Bay Area artists, all San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) Society for the Encouragement of Contemporary Art (SECA) Art Award honorees

“The Dining Room” – a private restaurant style dining area with a menu designed by Chef Tritia Gestuvo, a California native, that blends international comfort foods — such as a traditional Chinese congee breakfast and hand-cut pappardelle pasta with mushroom ragout — with staples like the United Polaris Burger

A bistro-like buffet that includes a ramen noodle bar in the afternoon and additional unique-to-San Francisco treats that align with the flight schedule and destinations of United and Star Alliance partners

Cocktails inspired by the Bay Area, including the Mai Tai, invented in Oaklandin 1944, and the Pisco Punch, featuring pisco which became all the rage during the California Gold Rush of 1849

Second floor view at United Polaris lounge at SFO (PRNewsfoto/United Airlines)

The United Polaris lounge at Newark Liberty International Airport is expected to open by early June, the lounge at George Bush Intercontinental in Houston this summer and the lounge at Los Angeles International Airport this fall.

Shower Suite at United Polaris lounge at SFO (PRNewsfoto/United Airlines)

The focus behind the United Polaris experience has always been to provide long-haul travelers with what they’ve asked for: better sleep in the sky. On average, United plans to add one aircraft with the new United Polaris business class seat every 10 days from now through 2020. Beginning July 1, every seat onboard will be provisioned with a cooling gel pillow. The gel pillow, previously available by request, has proven to be one of the most popular items of United Polaris bedding.

In response to customer feedback, beginning May 1, United will offer customers a pre-arrival dessert in place of the pre-departure chocolate that is currently served. On flights departing the U.S., customers will be served a white chocolate cranberry cookie from Christie Cookie Co., handcrafted from gourmet ingredients in Nashville, Tenn. Customers on flights that originate outside the U.S. will receive a box of chocolates.

Hong Kong Airlines celebrated the launch of its new A350 service to San Francisco on March 25. The City by the Bay becomes the airline’s third destination in North America, following the successful launch of services to Vancouver and Los Angeles in 2017.

Flight HX060 departed Hong Kong on time at 1303 and touched down at San Francisco International Airport at 1023 local time. Following a celebration event at the boarding gate hosted by Hong Kong Airlines, flight HX061 departed from San Francisco at noon and is scheduled to arrive ahead of time on early Monday evening. To mark this special occasion, Mark Farrell, Mayor of the City and County of San Francisco, proclaimed March 25, 2018 as the “Hong Kong Airlines Day in San Francisco.”

To make the San Francisco service extra special, Hong Kong Airlines has collaborated with USA celebrity chef and television personality Chris Cosentino to bring his flair for innovative cuisine onboard. Renowned for his seasonal and rustic cooking, Chef Cosentino is known for his restaurant, Cockscomb, where he reinterprets classic San Francisco dishes by adding his own unique twist. Business Class passengers travelling from San Francisco to Hong Kong will enjoy a specially curated menu created by Chef Cosentino featuring a three course meal presented in new tableware by Hong Kong designers JIA. This delectable menu will also be introduced on Hong Kong Airline’s Los Angeles – Hong Kong route in the months ahead.

Business Class passengers can also look forward to receiving an updated set of Hong Kong-themed amenity kits, designed by Hong Kong’s Ricebowl Republic and CLIP. Each pouch is made with thick cotton canvas and lined with bold-coloured fabric, featuring birdcage, teapot, rice bowl or the Hong Kong city skyline.

Hong Kong Airlines operates flights between Hong Kong and San Francisco four-times weekly at the following schedule# (all times local).

French Blue Airlines (Paris-Orly) announced on January 30, 2018 it was changing its name to French Bee to avoid any name conflict with JetBlue Airways.

French Bee has now announced it will now start the Paris (Orly) – San Francisco – Papeete (Tahiti) route on May 11, 2018 after receiving DOT approval. The new route will operate two days a week with Airbus A350-900 aircraft.

United Airlines (UAL) has announced it will begin service between San Francisco and Pape’ete, the capital of Tahiti, the South Pacific’s gateway to more than 118 islands in French Polynesia including Bora Bora, Moorea, the Marquesas and Raiatea. United is the only U.S. carrier offering nonstop service to Tahiti from the mainland United States.

United will operate nonstop service, three times weekly with Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft between its San Franciscohub and Fa’a’ā International Airport (PPT), beginning Oct. 30, 2018, through March 28, 2019, subject to government approval.

Winter 2018 schedule – Subject to government approval

Flight

City

Frequency

Depart*

Arrive*

UA 115

SFO – PPT

Tues/Thurs/Sun

2:45 p.m.

9:25 p.m.

UA 114

PPT – SFO

Tues/Thurs/Sun

11:45 p.m.

9:50 a.m. next day

*Flight Times Subject to Change

United’s Long History Connecting Customers to the Pacific Islands

United’s love affair with the Pacific islands started more than 70 years ago and continues today. It began in 1947 with United’s first flight across the Pacific from San Francisco to Honolulu, making the Hawaiian Islands an easily accessible destination for tourism and business. Today, United offers more flights between the mainland and the Hawaiian Islands than any other U.S. carrier.

In 1968, United expanded its Pacific network linking the Hawaiian Islands, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Guam. Today, nearly half a century later, United’s Island Hopper – Flight 155 – departs Guam in the morning and makes a series of five, one-hour flights to the islands of Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae; Kwajalein and Majuro. In addition to the airline’s popular Island Hopper service, United connects customers from Guam to other island destinations including Palau, Yap and the Philippines.

In 1986, United began nonstop service from its West Coast hubs in the U.S. to Sydney and Melbourne, Australia. Today, United is the largest U.S. carrier to serve Australia, offering the most seats to Sydney and Melbourne with its daily nonstop service from San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Building its powerful Pacific network, last year United began nonstop service from San Francisco to Auckland, New Zealand, becoming the largest mainland U.S. carrier to serve the City of Sails.

French blue had recently announced plans to serve Tahiti from Paris via a technical stop in San Francisco.